‘Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable’

The Mohawk Trail Regional School Class of 2014 toss their caps into the air to finish off graduation ceremonies on Sunday.Recorder/Micky Bedell Purchase photo reprints »

Robbie Buoniconti, valedictorian of the Mohawk Trail Regional School Class of 2014, speaks to his classmates during graduation ceremonies at the school on Sunday.Recorder/Micky Bedell Purchase photo reprints »

Mohawk Trail Regional School Superintendent Michael Buoniconti reminices about the Class of 2014 during graduation ceremonies at the school on Sunday.Recorder/Micky Bedell Purchase photo reprints »

A recent graduate of the Mohawk Trail Regional School reaches out to congratulate a friend during the ceremonies at the school on Sunday, while other members of the class of 2014 look on.Recorder/Micky Bedell Purchase photo reprints »

SHELBURNE — The Mohawk Trail Regional School Class of 2014 gathered Sunday under hazy blue skies in the school athletic field for a send-off from family, peers and administrators who told them to listen, think for themselves and stay in touch.

Superintendent Michael Buoniconti addressed a graduating class that includes his son, valedictorian Robert Buoniconti.

“Perhaps like many of you in the stands, my wife Barbara and I are stunned that our child is about to graduate from high school. How did that happen?” Buoniconti said in a choking voice, going on to share memories of his son and others in the class as small children and young adults.

Buoniconti said he has come to know many in the class through his son, and was brimming with pride and joy at their graduation.

“Mohawk Class of 2014, it has been an absolute joy sharing life with you in this beautiful setting these past nine years. While we all know that you still have much to learn, we know that you are ready for what comes next,” the elder Buoniconti said.

Delivering the valedictorian’s address, Robert Buoniconti said he and his classmates have acquired the skills to succeed and think for themselves, and suggested that they neither run off to live with the grizzlies nor aspire to Great Gatsby-esque levels of excess.

“Do not forget those who love you ... there is no reason to drop off the map,” the younger Buoniconti said, adding that it is likely some won’t see each other again.

“Wish each other well and maintain this hill town value of community. I will miss all of you,” he said.

Guest speaker Elizabeth McGowan, a graduate of the Mohawk Class of 1979 and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, spoke of the importance of listening and charged students to think for themselves.

“Treat this piece of paper as a ticket that gives you the guts, the grit and the gumption to find your own way to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, no matter what you end up doing, where you end up doing it,” McGowan said.

McGowan and two InsideClimate News colleagues won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for their work on the oil pipeline industry.

Salutatorian Joshua Rode told his classmates everyone dies sooner or later and quoted from the Bible passage including the line “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Rode said that this should be read as encouragement, urging his classmates to accept and learn from the ebbs and flows of life.

“It is the search for truth, self-love, acceptance and knowledge that makes life worth living. The golden years will come and they will go throughout the course of your life,” Rode said.